Combined fall-cover and music-rack for piano or organ casings.



E. J. KNABE, JR. GOMBINED FALL COVER AND MUSIC BACK FOB PIANO 0B ORGAN OASINGS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 19, 1911.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

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OOLUMIIA PLANouIAPn co.. WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST J. KNABE, JR, 0F CINCINNATI, OHIO.

COMBINED FALL-COVER AND MUSIC-RACK FOR PIANO OR ORGAN CASINGS.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNEST J. KNABE, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combined Fall- Covers and Music-Racks for Piano or Organ Casings; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in music racks and is particularly designed to form a part of the keyboard cover of a piano or organ and when the cover is open to serve the purpose of a shell for conveniently holding written music.

The object of the invention is to provide a music rest which is so connected to the fall cover of an upright piano that it will automatically take a proper position for supporting music when the cover is opened and is easily returned to its original position when it is desired to close the cover.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain combina tions and arrangements of the parts hereinafter described and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood reference will be had to the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred embodiment thereof, but it is to be understood that slight changes in the form, proportion and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of an upright piano with my invention applied thereto, the fall cover carrying the music rest being shown in open position; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale of a portion of Fig. 1 embodying my invention.

The piano represented by 1 has the usual keyboard support 2 and front longitudinally extending vertical strip 3 recessed at its outer top edge as at 4 for receiving the edge of the cover flange. To the usual horizontally extending strip 5 above the keys is hingedly connected as at 6 or in any other suitable manner, a fall cover lid 7 which is preferably of a width suflicient to extend,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 19, 1911.

Patented Mar. 19, 1912.

Serial No. 645,047.

when in its closed position, a little beyond the outer face of the strip 3, and be supported against the piano casing in the usual manner when the cover is in its open position.

The music rack consists of a longitudinally extending bar 8 hingedly connected as at 9 to the lid 7 of the fall cover in such a manner as to lie with its back against the inner side of the lid when same is in the open position and follow the are 10 as the lid is being closed to form a right angle therewith when it is fully closed as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

To the lower edge of the bar 8 is connected, by means of a hinge 11, a music holding shelf 12 which is preferably provided with an outer flange 13 and grooves such as 14 for retaining a sheet of music or book in proper position. 'The shelf 12 may be swung on the are 15 against the bar 8 which is recessed as at 16 for receiving the flange 13 of the shelf when it is desired to close the fall cover. The edge 17 of the shelf 12 extends beyond the pivot point of the hinge 11 and is adapted to overlap the lower edge of the bar 8 when the shelf is in its supporting position and register with the recess 4 of the longitudinal strip 3 when the lid 7 is closed and the shelf turned upwardly as shown in dotted lines, Fig. 2.

The hinge 9 is preferably a freely working hinge while the hinge 11 is preferably stiffly working. By this arrangement the bar 8 will automatically swing into proper position when the lid 7 is raised or lowered, and the section or shelf 12 must be moved by hand so as not to mar the finish on the cover.

It is thought the construct-ion, operation and advantages of my improved music rack will be clearly understood by those skilled in the art to which it pertains without further explanation.

Having fully described my invent-ion, what I claim is 1. The combination with a casing for pianos or organs of a combined fall cover and music rack therefor comprising, a lid, two sections hingedly connected together, and hinges connecting one of said sections with the lid; said sections forming the front of the fall cover when the lid is lowered, and movable, when the lid is raised, to a position to serve as a music rack, substantially as de scribed.

2. The combination with a casing for pianos 0r organs of a combined fall cover and music rack therefor comprising, a lid, a section having loose hinged connections with the lid; and a section having stiff hinged connections with the first named section; said sections forming the front of the fall cover when the lid is lowered and movable, when the lid is raised, to provide a music rack, substantially described.

3. The combination with a casing for pianos or organs of a combined fall cover and music rack therefor comprising, a lid, a bar hingedly connected to said lid, a section hingedly connected to said bar at a position removed from the edge of the section and leaving an extended portion, said section and bar forming the front of the fall cover when the lid is lowered; and movable, when the lid is raised, to provide a music rack; said section extended portion adapted to overlap the bar edge and be braced thereby when forming the music rack, substantially as described.

4:. The combination with a casing for pianos or organs of a combined fall cover and music rack therefor comprising, a lid, a bar hingedly connected to said lid and having a recess along the hinged edge thereof, a sec tion hingedly connected to said bar at a position removed from the opposite edge of the section and leaving an extended portion, said section having a flange on its free edge for retaining sheets of music, and adapted to engage within the recess of said bar; said section and bar adapted to be folded and provide a front for the fall cover when the lid is lowered, and adapted to be opened and provide a music supporting rack when the lid is raised, said section extended portion adapted to overlap the bar edge and be braced thereby when forming the music rack, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a casing for pianos or organs of a combined fall cover and music rack therefor comprising, a lid, a bar hingedly connected to said lid and having a recess along the hinged edge thereof, a section hingedly connected to said bar at a position removed from the opposite edge thereof and leaving an extended portion on said section, said section having a flange, and grooves in its surface for retaining sheets of music; the flange of said section adapted to engage within the recess of said bar; said bar and section adapted to be folded and provide a front for the fall cover when the lid is lowered, and adapted to be opened and provide a music supporting rack when the lid is raised; the extended portion of said section adapted to engage with the edge of the bar and hold said section in music supporting position, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

ERNEST J. KNABE, JR.

T/Vitnesses Jos. J. MACK, H. M. Cox.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

